The Amazing Mango Festival in Hopkins

Hopkins Mango Fest 2018

On June 2-3, 2018, the village of Hopkins will host the sixth annual Mango Fest, a glorious celebration of the succulent mango fruit. The rich soil of the Hopkins area allows local farmers to grow several different varieties of mango, and all will be available for tasting during this lively festival.

A tropical fruit that’s only recently became popular in the United States, mangos are considered a superfood. A cousin of fruits like cherries and plums, mangos have a distinctly sharp, sweet taste that is sometimes compared to a cross between a pineapple and a peach. Mangos supply more than 20 vitamins and minerals and have been cultivated by people for over 5,000 years.

The Mango Fest at Hopkins is held every year in June, when the succulent mango fruits become mature and are at their peak flavor. Mango Fest will feature a wide variety of mangos, including apple mangos, blue mangos, black mangos, and number 11 mangos as well as a smorgasbord of mango-themed dishes, including jams, jellies, smoothies, juices, and savory fare. Local chefs will be on hand, competing to create delicious dishes from all the locally-grown mangos.

Besides all the delicious mangos and mango-themed foods, Mango Fest will also be home to exciting games and activities, including a dory (small wooden boat) fishing contest, stories for children, a raffle, and lots of live music. Some of the top musical acts in Belize will be on hand. Previous headliners included Pen Cayetano, Griga Boyz, DJ Kadejah Tunn, the Lebeha Drummers, and the Tropical Vybz Band.

The village of Hopkins is home to the Garifuna people, an Afro-Caribbean culture which has been recognized by the United Nations for their unique music, drumming, language, and food. In the Garifuna language, mangos are known as “mangu,” and so Mango Fest is also known as Mangu Fest or Hopkins Mangu Fest. Approximately 1,500 Garifuna people live in the village of Hopkins, but the festival is expected to draw in several thousand people from the region.

Hopkins is located just a short, 30-minute drive from Dangriga or a 60-minute drive from Placencia, making it really easy to attend the festival for visitors staying in the region.

If you’re interested in attending the 2018 Mango Fest in Hopkins, Barefoot Rentals and Services has a full line of vehicles for rent, including cars and pick-up trucks, and SUVs, and vehicles can be picked up or delivered to any location in the country.